Past News Releases

Brookhaven Retreat began a complete renovation of its therapeutic ropes course in February 2013. It is excited to announce that in May, it prepares to add the final touches to its finished course.

A type of experiential therapy offered by Brookhaven Retreat, a ropes course typically consists of high and low elements that create a challenging activity that inspires personal development. Brookhaven Retreat’s ropes course consists uniquely of low elements designed to physically and emotionally challenge women recovering from mental health and substance abuse issues.

Each exercise on a ropes course is meant to promote interpersonal skills such as trust, communication, leadership, problem solving and self-discovery. Cooperative tasks encourage women to depend upon and open themselves to others. For women recovering from isolation or trauma, this can help break down emotional barriers and allow other therapies to more effectively process issues.

A ropes course helps form a more holistic picture of a woman’s mental health. Emotional reactions such as fear of falling or fear of failure prompt discoveries about anxiety or self-esteem issues that women can address in therapy. With the help of a certified therapist, women are able to rebuild trust and self-esteem. Ropes course therapy also helps women practice mindfulness skills, as the course requires all of a woman’s focus and attention.

Earlier in the year, all cables on Brookhaven Retreat’s ropes course were replaced and new elements added to make the course more versatile. Brookhaven Retreat was able to add several new exercises to each of its ropes course elements to make the course more dynamic and challenging.

Brookhaven Retreat renovated the ropes course as part of its ongoing efforts to provide the very best care to women with emotional breakage and mental health issues. Once the final layer of wood chips is added in May, the renovation will be entirely complete.

For seven years, Brookhaven Retreat’s ropes course has been helping women self-discover and process mental health issues on their journey to wellness. It is excited to provide an improved course designed to help women for many more years to come.

About Brookhaven Retreat

Brookhaven Retreat is a women's treatment center nestled on a naturally beautiful 48-acre site secluded in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. It has helped hundreds of women across the United States overcome depression, trauma, anxiety, substance use and a range of other behavioral health challenges. Brookhaven’s Founder, Jacqueline Dawes, has predicated its gender-specific treatment on “healing emotional breakage” for women. In this way, she has established a sanctuary and a place where women can feel safe, secure and cared for by a staff of highly trained professionals.